Privacy & Hiring Tips

Questions to Ask a Roofer Before Hiring

Ask roofers about license, insurance, permits, materials, flashing, ventilation, warranty, payment schedule, cleanup, and timeline before signing.

May 12, 20267 min readby HomeGoSmart Editorial

Most roofing problems start before the first nail is driven — at the conversation with the contractor. The questions you ask (or don't ask) during the bid and contract phase decide whether the project goes smoothly or turns into the kind of horror story that lives forever on Yelp. This guide gives you a concrete list of questions to ask every roofer you bid, why each one matters, and what a confident, professional answer sounds like.

In this guide

1. Licensing and insurance
2. References and recent work
3. Materials and brand specifics
4. Tear-off, deck inspection, and change orders
5. Flashing and ventilation approach
6. Warranty — what's covered, by whom, for how long
7. Permits and inspection sign-off
8. Payment schedule and lien releases
9. Cleanup, property protection, and noise
10. Timeline and weather contingencies

Licensing and insurance

Start with the basics: ask for the CSLB license number and the names of currently active workers' compensation and general liability policies. Don't accept a verbal answer — ask for the certificate of insurance (COI) for both policies, with your home address listed as the certificate holder for the project. The license number lets you check cslb.ca.gov for active status, classification (C-39 for roofing), and complaint history. The COIs protect you if a crew member is injured on your property (workers' comp) or if the work damages something else on the property (general liability). Without both, you can be personally liable for accidents. Reputable contractors provide these without hesitation, often before being asked.

References and recent work

Ask for three references from completed projects within the past six months. Recent matters — a contractor whose best work was 5 years ago may have a different crew today. Call at least two references and ask: did the project finish on time? Did the final cost match the quote? How were change orders handled? Would you hire this contractor again, and what would you do differently? Also ask for a recent address you can drive by to see the work in person. A contractor who hesitates to provide references, or whose only references are from years ago, may be hiding a recent track record problem.

Materials and brand specifics

Move from generic to specific. Don't accept 'architectural asphalt shingles' as an answer — ask: which brand? Which product line within that brand? Which color, by name? What weight per square? Is the contractor a certified installer for this brand (GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed ShingleMaster, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred)? Certification matters because the extended manufacturer warranty (covering both materials and workmanship for 25+ years) is only available through certified contractors. Ask to see a sample of the actual shingle being proposed. The few minutes spent looking at a physical sample prevents the common surprise of seeing the installed roof and realizing it's not what you imagined.

Tear-off, deck inspection, and change orders

Ask explicitly: is this a tear-off or an overlay? If tear-off, what happens if rotten deck plywood is discovered during the process? How many sheets of deck replacement are included in the quote? What's the per-sheet rate for additional sheets if needed? Reasonable answers: tear-off down to the deck, up to two sheets of deck replacement included, $80–$120 per additional sheet, change-order authorization required in writing before extra work begins. Anything that involves the contractor doing extra work without your written approval is something to push back on. Get the change-order process spelled out before the project starts.

Flashing and ventilation approach

Ask which flashing pieces will be replaced versus reused, by location: chimney flashing (almost always replace), step flashing along walls (always replace), valleys (always replace), plumbing-vent boots (replace), skylight curbs (replace). Ask what flashing material — galvanized steel, aluminum, or copper — and why. On ventilation, ask whether the existing attic ventilation meets current code (1 sq ft of net free area per 150 sq ft of attic, balanced intake/exhaust), and what upgrades the contractor recommends. A contractor who says 'I'll match what's there' may be doing the easy thing rather than the right thing — ask why they're not recommending an upgrade if the existing system is undersized.

Warranty — what's covered, by whom, for how long

Ask for the warranty terms in writing as part of the contract. What does the manufacturer warranty cover, and for how long? (Typically 25–lifetime years for materials.) What does the workmanship warranty cover, and for how long? (Industry standard 5–10 years; premium contractors offer 25.) Is the warranty transferable on resale, and how is the transfer triggered (registration, fee, automatic)? What voids the warranty (lack of maintenance, unauthorized repairs, missed inspections)? A contractor who offers vague verbal warranty assurances without putting them in writing is offering nothing — verbal warranties are unenforceable when the issue surfaces three years later.

Permits and inspection sign-off

Ask: will you pull the permit, or do I need to? (Almost always the contractor.) Is the permit fee included in the quoted price? What inspections happen during the project, and at what stages? Will you provide the inspection sign-off documentation at completion? In California, most cities require a tear-off inspection (before the new underlayment goes on) and a final inspection. A contractor who skips inspections is a contractor whose work isn't being independently checked. The inspection sign-off is also what triggers manufacturer warranty registration on many brands — without it, the warranty may never activate.

Payment schedule and lien releases

Ask for the payment schedule in writing. A reasonable structure: 10%/$1,000 deposit (max allowed by California law), 30–40% on material delivery, 30–40% at substantial completion, balance after final inspection sign-off and lien release delivery. The lien releases — both unconditional from the contractor at final payment, and conditional from each material supplier — protect you from a supplier filing a mechanics lien on your home if the contractor doesn't pay them. Ask if the contractor will provide both, and at what point. Reputable contractors provide lien releases routinely; less reputable ones bristle at the request because they don't follow through with their suppliers.

Cleanup, property protection, and noise

Ask how the contractor protects the property, how cleanup is handled, and what hours the crew works. Reasonable answers: landscape tarping along the perimeter, plywood over HVAC condensers and pool equipment, a dumpster or roll-off on site for debris, daily end-of-day cleanup, magnetic nail sweep at the end of the project. Work hours typically 7am–6pm with a one-hour break, no Sunday work, weather-dependent scheduling. If you have a pool or sensitive landscaping, mention it specifically — what extra protection is offered? Some contractors include this baseline; others charge extra for anything beyond minimal coverage.

Timeline and weather contingencies

Ask: when does the project start (in days after permit issuance), and how long does it take? What happens if it rains during the project? Who decides when a weather delay is in effect? What happens if a material substitution is needed because of backorders? Reasonable project times for a 25-square single-family re-roof: 2–3 days of crew work, with start typically 2–4 weeks after permit issuance. Weather clauses should specify that the contractor is responsible for protecting the work-in-progress (tarping if rain is forecast), and that delays caused by weather extend the timeline but don't trigger penalties either way. A contractor without a clear answer on these questions hasn't run a real project recently.

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Frequently asked questions

How many references should I ask for?

Three from the past six months is a reasonable ask. Call at least two. Ask whether the project finished on time, on budget, whether change orders were handled professionally, and whether the homeowner would hire the contractor again.

Should the roofer carry both general liability and workers' comp?

Yes. Without workers' comp, you can be liable if a crew member is injured on your property. Always ask for current certificates of insurance for both — not just business cards or verbal claims.

What if the contractor says they 'don't usually pull permits'?

Walk away. Unpermitted work creates resale problems (disclosure obligations), invalidates manufacturer warranties on the new roof, and exposes you to fines from the city. A professional roofer pulls permits as a matter of course.

Is it rude to ask for a written warranty?

No — it's standard. A verbal warranty is unenforceable when something goes wrong three years later and the original salesperson has moved on. Get the warranty terms, duration, and exclusions in writing as part of the contract.

How do I know the contractor is actually answering rather than dodging?

A professional answers each question directly, in specifics, and offers documentation when relevant ('here's a copy of our COI', 'here's the manufacturer warranty PDF'). A dodging contractor gives vague reassurances and changes the subject toward closing.

Related guides

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Roofing Quote Checklist: What to Check Before You Sign